Deere + Company

Lee J Wanie

Robert N Behrens

Stanley J DeBraal

Michael Bedis

James W Moore

A device for tensioning a drive belt extending between a vehicle power source and its driven attachment is provided. The device includes first and second members slideably coupled together and adapted to extend between and operably engage a first powered shaft member and a second shaft member carried on the attachment. A compression spring is coupled with the slideable members for urging them apart and tensioning a belt entrained around pulleys carried on the two shaft members. An overcenter locking structure is provided to secure the spring in its compressed configuration or release the compression and retract the slideable members for removal, adjustment and/or installation. Adjustable stops abutting the ends of the spring permit the level of spring force to be selected for a variety of applications.

Tensioning device

A neutral start mechanism having first and second arm members coupled with an input control shaft of a hydrostatic transmission and which extend at angles to one another for being pulled back to a neutral position by a spring. First and second slots are formed in the second arm member for receiving first and second pin members which are positioned in the end portions of the slots when the linkage is in its neutral mode. First and second switches are positioned adjacent the end portions of the first and second slots for sensing the presence of the pin members within the end portions of the slots. The switches are coupled with the vehicle power source for preventing the power source from being started when the pins are not in the end portions of the slots and the linkage and transmission are not in a neutral, non-driving mode.

Neutral start mechanism for a hydrostatic transmission

A system and method for controlling the ground speed and enhancing the maneuverability of an off-road vehicle having systems for initially establishing and thereafter automatically returning the hydrostatic transmission to the neutral position, a pedal system interconnected with the neutral location and return system for selectively driving the vehicle in either the forward or the reverse direction, a brake system consisting of a left foot operated left and right turn brake subsystem which enhances the vehicles maneuverability, a right foot operated master brake system which is used to bring the vehicle to a complete halt and for emergencies, and a park brake system which is used to lock the brakes when the vehicle is at rest, a cruise control system which is interconnected with the pedal system and the brake system. The left foot operated turn brake subsystem enables an operator to utilize the turn brakes without the cruise control engaged and without having to take his foot off the forward or the reverse pedal. The cruise interconnections with the service brake and the pedal system provide a plurality of disengagement options for the cruise control system.

System and method for controlling the ground speed and enhancing the

A system and method for controlling the ground speed and enhancing the maneuverability of an off-road vehicle having systems for initially establishing and thereafter automatically returning the hydrostatic transmission to the neutral position, a pedal system interconnected with the neutral location and return system for selectively driving the vehicle in either the forward or the reverse direction, a brake system consisting of a left foot operated left and right turn brake subsystem which enhances the vehicle maneuverability, a right foot operated master brake system which is used to bring the vehicle to a complete hault and for emergencies, and a park brake system which is used to lock the brakes when the vehicle is at rest, a cruise control system which is interconnected with the pedal system and the brake system. The left foot operated turn brake subsystem enables an operator to utilize the turn brakes without the cruise control engaged and without having to take his foot off the forward or the reverse pedal. The cruise interconnections with the service brake and the pedal system provide a plurality of disengagement options for the cruise control system.

A system and method for controlling the ground speed and enhancing the maneuverability of an off-road vehicle having systems for initially establishing and thereafter automatically returning the hydrostatic transmission to the neutral position, a pedal system interconnected with the neutral location and return system for selectively driving the vehicle in either the forward or the reverse direction, a brake system consisting of a left foot operated left and right turn brake subsystem which enhances the vehicle's maneuverability, a right foot operated master brake system which is used to bring the vehicle to a complete halt and for emergencies, and a park brake system which is used to lock the brakes when the vehicle is at rest, a cruise control system which is interconnected with the pedal system and the brake system. The left foot operated turn brake subsystem enables an operator to utilize the turn brakes without the cruise control engaged and without having to take his foot off the forward or the reverse pedal. The cruise control system's interconnections with the service brake and the pedal system provide a plurality of disengagement options for the cruise control system.

A hydrostatic transmission including a pump and motor unit wherein the pump unit is displaceable effectuated by an operative member integral to the pump unit. A neutral start switch communicating with a carrying machine is mounted in the pump unit to contact the operative member in a manner causing the neutral start switch to become operative only when the operative member is assuming a neutral position.

Neutral start for hydrostatic transmission

A neutralizing mechanism is provided for moving the control arm of a hydrostatic traction drive transmission and a control lever therefor to their respective neutral positions in response to movement of a traction drive brake pedal toward a brake-engage position. The neutralizing mechanism includes a neutralizing member having abutments for engaging the control arm at locations spaced equidistant from the arm pivot axis.

Neutralizing mechanism for a hydrostatic transmission

A mower blade spindle assembly includes a drive shaft having a hub received on threaded end of the shaft. The shaft is tapered from the root diameter of the last thread and the hub is correspondingly tapered so as to provide a thread relief. The end of the shaft on which the hub is received has a threaded bore extending axially therein for receiving a blade mounting bolt. The bore is counterbored to a depth corresponding to the length of the threaded portion receiving the hub.

Growing community of inventors

Horicon, WI, United States of America

Lee J Wanie